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Hi, Rusty!
No sign of any husband so far in any of Miss P's stories....in fact, she frequently stresses that she is a middle-aged spinster!
I think maybe this is "poetic licence"?
Being a "spinster" probably fits in better with her exploits!
I DO have Windows Defender switched on ...so this will be sufficient protection for my computer in the current crisis?
That is good to know.
I do not really understand about these things, but I follow the instructions and hopefully do all that I should.
I too finished the 15 x15 today.
I especially liked 18a, 27a and 19d.
I couldn't parse 14a though?
Powerful banker embraces European blueprint for life (6)
I have "genome", which is a complete set of genes in a cell, but I cannot parse it?
I have no idea how it derives?
I still cannot see the chick live on the webcam...have you seen it?



Hello, Pigale!
That is great your news about your dentistry!
I am glad that all has worked out well.
Yes, I thought that Lassie was most tender in her approach to her first baby chick!
It did my heart good to see her feeding it so lovingly and patiently.

Elle, for 14 A, the 'powerful banker' (financier) is a Gnome, then stick in the E from European.

Hello, Elle!
Microsoft says make sure Windows Defender in ON.
They say that's all you need.
I am not clued up on these things either.
There is no protection on my Chromebook.
Apparently it does not need it.
No, there was no husband in the books, that I remember.
14, It is as Malone says.
Look up "gnome" in your fine Chambers Dictionary.
Mine tells me it is a "facetious" term for an obscure but powerful international financier or banker.
A good clue, I think.
But whenever I see "banker", I think "river"!
I saw the chick this morning and Lassie was chirping loudly for Laddie to go and catch a fish!

Hi, Rusty!
I have an icon at the bottom of my computer screen on which I can click to tell me the status of Windows Defender - I am assured that it is "On"!
That is just as well as I shouldn't know what to do with it if it weren't!
For "gnome", my Chambers gives: "the gnomes of Europe, Zurich etc., the powerful international bankers"
I had no idea of this and would never got the answer to that clue had I not known of course what a "genome" is.
But I did not understand how to parse it.
I agree with you, we have become programmed to think "river" whenever we see "bank / banker"!
I am having no luck in catching sight of the new chick!
The new goslings in the park are doing well - I saw them this morning.
I shall now play catch up and watch "15 to 1".




Thank you, Malone!
I had never heard of "gnome" in that context!

Elle, glad I introduced you to the Gnome. My Chambers is more expansive - 'gnome... an obscure but powerful financier or banker (facetious)' and then goes on to mention the gnomes of Europe...
I've seen gnome/banker used before - it's odd enough to have stuck in my brain.

Good evening, Elle!
Anne Bradford has "gnome" under "banker", too, also "river".
I am slightly surprised you did not know it.
Anyway, I have explored "gnomes" further!
Brewer's has "Gnomes of Zurich" as an uncomplimentary term.
"The phrase was a favourite of the Labour leadership of the 1950s and 1960s (notably Harold Wilson) suspicious of the machinations of international finance, and this brought it into the public domain."
Your computer appears to be fine if Defender is "ON", according to what I have read.
But another opinion would do no harm.

Hi, Rusty!
No, I had never come across the word "gnome" in that context before!
I have just checked my Brewers and it says the same as yours.
Where would we be without Brewers and Anne B?
(up the creek without a paddle?)
I have had so much good use out of them !
The only crossword reference book I have bought that I have never yet had cause to use is Chambers' "Crossword Lists".
I think I made a mistake buying this.....I bought it for 1p, and was very pleased at the time as it seemed to have been unopened!
I can now see why........I have never had reason to open it either!
I am not sure in what circumstances I would have call to use it?
Do you know the book?
My daughter has phoned since last I spoke to you, so I asked her about Windows 10 and "Defender".
She thought it okay provided Defender was ON.
But as she doesn't use Windows herself, she is going to check it out.

Hello, Elle!
That's good your daughter will find out.
I agree with her that Defender will stop whatever it is.
An awful lot of folk use Windows so let us hope so.
I use AVG (free) on my phone and tablet.
Seems to work fine.
Brewer's, Bradford's, and Chambers, and you are set for anything!
I think I know your "lists" book, yes.
Can you not pass it on to a neighbour?

Good morning, Rusty!
A lovely warm sunny day here.
It was 19C when I went out for my walk at 8 am.
Dare we believe Summer is here to stay?
I have just had a quick tidy round, as one of my neighbours is popping in for coffee this morning.
I rather rashly offered to help out with one of her "projects" ...........
Otherwise I have a free day today.
What are you up to?

Good morning, Elle!
Overcast here!
You have the edge on me with the weather today!
I looked in at the Loch site earlier and Lassie was feeding the chick.
The little one is really growing quickly, and hungry!
I have no plans other than to watch the Giro at noon.
I'm cheering Tom Dumoulin and "G" Thomas today!
There will be an announcement on FaceBook at 6pm from France letting folk know if Miss Sharapova is getting a wild card, or no, for Roland Garros.
What about those of us who are not on FaceBook!
Boo!